Introducing Ivy who kept making me laugh because of the incredible range of her facial expressions.  I know that most newborn photos present those sleeping little people as peaceful and serene and there were plenty of those, but I couldn’t resist including the one in my miniature crown in the collection as the combination of regal and displeased by the whole process just made me laugh. She was not amused.

I’ve taken photos of her big brother when he was this age and through his first year of the Joey Club baby photography club but their mum and dad decided that this session should be devoted just to Ivy – he’ll rejoin us when she comes to the baby club sessions.  He’s only 18 months old and this session would have been very boring from him, plus they didn’t feel that he would have been that cooperative posing with his newborn sister and so it was much better for him to hang out with some other folk having fun while we got these pictures done.  Much more relaxing for mum and dad too I thought as they could sit back, relax and watch their images being created.

Including Siblings in Newborn Shoots

The other option I suggest when you have a still little sibling is to have mum and the new arrival dropped off so we can start work on the solo images and then get dad and the big brother and sister to rejoin us after an hour or so.  They can go off and do something interesting (lots of people go and visit the soft play at Wyevale Garden Centre which is close by) and then get involved in pictures when they are fresh to it.  It’s not obligatory but these sessions can be a very dull place to be for a little one and there’s not anywhere that they can go and play.

A good thing to know if they are going to be staying and you will be using a phone or tablet to keep them entertained is that our reception is very bad so definitely worth downloading films and games before you come!

A newborn photo shoot is best when your baby is between 5 and 10 days old as this is when they are at their maximum sleepiness and poseability to capture those dreamy shots.  For this reason, I definitely recommend that you book when you are pregnant as this is one less thing to worry about scheduling when you’ve just got home from the hospital.   We make an appointment for your due date plus 7 days and then adjust it as needed.

My newborn shoots include your three favourite digital images which you select from your online gallery a few weeks after your photo shoot – I don’t make you attend a sales or viewing session.  Sessions take place in my warm and cosy studio in Crawley Down and cost £95.